Page 93 of An Honored Vow

I looked up in the sky, but only one sun shone down on us. Here theshirakdidn’t exist; there was no need for Faelin’s protection. “It took all your magic to create the shadow sun? Feron says creating it cost you your gifts and you died.”

“Most of it.” Faelin gave me a small smile. “Though Fae cannot create magic. Only use it or store it away.” She glanced up at the sky.

My heart stilled. “The shadow sun is a seal? It stores your magic still?”

“A powerful spell that took weeks to weave.” Faelin nodded. “And one that protects our people still.”

“And what if it was broken?” My eyes narrowed. “Would that release enough magic to kill theshirakfor good?”

Faelin’s lips thinned. “Many of them, but not all.”

My stomach fell to the ground. It wasn’t worth risking the only protection we had against them if it didn’t ensure their destruction.

Faelin’s stare hardened. “Breaking a seal comes with its own cost.” She clasped her hands, her long sleeves billowing in the light breeze. “The last one you broke almost cost you your life.”

“Elverath gifted me great power.” My hands fisted at my sides. “Perhaps this is how I’m meant to use it.”

“Or perhaps Elverath gave you and your kin the gifts to rebuild after the war is won.”

I scoffed. “How are we to fight Damien’s armies and theshirakat once?”

“You will find a way.” Faelin’s eyes glowed gold. “You always have.”

I cocked my jaw. “What is the point of being able to talk to the ancestors if you don’t tell me what to do?”

She laughed. “We do not have all the answers, Keera. We never have.” Faelin placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Your ancestors have already fought this battle and lost. Do not chain yourself to their choices but learn from them.”

I bit my cheek. “If I stall, people die. If I make the wrong choice, all our people may die.”

“Yes,” Faelin answered as if that wasn’t the most horrifying word she could say. “Create a second shadow sun, destroy the first, do neither—the choice is yours, and I trust you will make the right one. But know that to create a spell like that—or destroy one—takes measurable strength.” Faelin’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “Strong enough, and one may do it on their own. But the burden can be shared. Split between many gifts.” Faelin leaned closer to me, her eyes lit by an auric glow.

My back tensed. “I can’t ask the other Fae to do that.”

“Your mother did.” Faelin raised a brow.

I stepped out of her grasp. “And that only delayed the conflict. The Elverin are done living under the shadow of the throne. Elverath is theirs, and they will get it back now or die trying. Not seven hundred years from now.”

Faelin stepped forward and put her hand to my face. “You have learned so much, Keera. Trust yourself.” Her eyes flicked behind me where Vrail was stumbling through the meadow. “Our visit has come to an end for now.” She stood tall as the edges of the landscape began to fade. “Know this, Keera Waateyith’thir, there is healing in the past when you are ready to search for it.”

I reached out, wanting to know what she meant, but Vrail collapsed on the ground and everything around us went black.

I opened my eyes and saw we were back in the empty room. Vrail panted as she crawled on the floor, reaching for her waterskin. I passed it to her and squeezed her knee.

“Thank you for holding on as long as you did.”

Vrail nodded through rasping breaths. “Did she tell you anything that could help us?”

I shook my head.

“At least we tried.” Vrail collapsed back onto the floor.

“We did.” I cleared my throat and stood so Vrail couldn’t see the guilt on my face. I was not going to let the council or any of my friends deliberate on this. Faelin had gifted her knowledge to me, and it was mine to use.

Though hopefully I wouldn’t have to.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX

WE GATHERED IN FERON’S ROOMto feast when Pirmiith rushed in through the open door. He sped past Riven, who was standing to eat his dinner after Nikolai made a point of dragging his chair away from the table.

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